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RACIALLY MOTIVATED KILLING: Stephen Lawrence was murdered at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London, in 1993

THE DNA of a mystery woman has been found near to where Stephen Lawrence was murdered in south east London 23 years ago, and detectives are now renewing the appeal for information.

Scotland Yard detectives recovered new evidence from the strap of a bag found close to the bus stop where the 18-year-old black student was stabbed to death.

Improvements in forensic testing led to the breakthrough, the Metropolitan Police said.

Officers are asking for help from the public in identifying the owner of a bag strap, which was discarded at the scene of the fatal assault on April 22 1993. They will appeal for information via a reconstruction to be shown on Crimewatch this evening (Sept 12) at 9pm.

The bag strap was sent for DNA profiling in 2014; improvements in forensic testing have now produced a full DNA profile of an unidentified female.

The black, leather bag strap measures 66cm in length and is 1.7cm in width. The strap is believed to have been left on the road beside where Stephen was attacked in Dickson Road, by the junction with Well Hall Road. The strap does not belong to Stephen. His bag was dropped in the road where he was attacked, a short distance from where the strap was discarded. Having reviewed police statements, and re-interviewed witnesses from the initial inquiry, officers now believe that the strap may be of significance to the investigation.

Chris Le Pere, the senior investigator in the case, said: “Since January 2016, officers have been carrying out screenings to eliminate witnesses from previous lines of enquiry. So far we have been unable to identify the owner of the bag strap. While there is no evidence that a woman was at the scene of the attack, I need to establish who this bag belonged to, and why was it at the spot where Stephen was attacked. The strap was not left by either Stephen or Duwayne Brooks."

To date, officers have spoken to more than 110 people in connection with this particular line of enquiry. Fifty of these individuals have volunteered samples, 46 have declined, 12 failed to respond to police requests and the remainder were eliminated for medical reasons.

Pere continued: “We are also continuing to appeal for help in tracing an individual seen wearing a jacket featuring a distinctive ‘V’ emblem in an off-licence at approx 8pm on the night of the murder, 100 yards from where Stephen was attacked. Witnesses previously reported seeing a man in a distinctive green jacket with a 'V' emblem in the vicinity of Well Hall Road Roundabout at about the time Stephen was attacked. Officers need to trace this man to establish if he is the same individual, as he may be able to assist us, or alternatively we can eliminate him from our enquiries.

On the evening of Thursday, April 22 1993, Stephen was stabbed to death by a group of up to six white youths in an unprovoked racist attack as he waited at a bus stop in Well Hall Road with a friend.

Following an initial confrontation Stephen was subsequently stabbed in nearby Dickson Road. He was able to escape from the group and managed to run a distance of around 222 metres before collapsing. The suspects ran off down Dickson Road.

Stephen was taken to Brook Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, after suffering two fatal stab wounds to his upper body.

Numerous investigations and inquiries have taken place over the years as a result of this landmark case. In January 2012, Gary Dobson and David Norris were found guilty of being involved in the attack on Stephen and sentenced to life imprisonment, after a forensic review of the case found significant new scientific evidence on clothing seized from their homes following the murder.

Tonight, for the first time on Crimewatch, a reconstruction of the attack will feature on the programme. Stephen’s father, Neville Lawrence, will also appeal for further information about his son’s death.

Despite securing two convictions in this case, the investigation remains open and officers believe there were individuals in the vicinity of the murder who have never come forward.